From booze to buff: how Anatii's sobriety and fitness journey redefined his life

IOL News

4 days ago

Award-winning musician and producer Anatii shares his inspiring journey to sobriety.
Image: Instagram
Grammy-award-winning artist and producer Anatii has revealed a deeply personal chapter of his life that is marked by discipline, transformation and self-discovery.
Known for his contributions to the local hip hop scene and thought-provoking lyricism, the 'Sey'hlangene' hitmaker recently gave fans a rare glimpse into a deeply personal chapter of his life and his journey to sobriety.
Marking one year, nine months, and thirteen days free from alcohol, Anatii quietly shared the milestone on his Instagram. The artist acknowledged the milestone with a post that featured moments of his days.
Anatii's journey to sobriety is just one part of his bigger commitment to improving himself. In January 2025, the multi-award-winning artist revealed his impressive weight loss, where he lost over 50 kilograms.
He gave credit to his health-focused lifestyle and the guidance of life coach Jeremy Blasco for helping him navigate the journey.
'I've been locked in working on myself holistically, and it feels amazing to see the results on my continued health journey.
'Losing 53kg in one year is no easy feat but I've unlocked a whole new level of mental fortitude and with the help of my amazing coach Jeremy Blasco who has dedicated so much time to making sure I train at least six times a week and making sure my nutrition is next level fully natural, gratitude on the highest,' he said.
He was also candid about the uphill battle, revealing that he struggled with weight gain throughout his life.
'Having struggled with weight gain and fluctuations most of my life, it feels good to finally be in control, ultimate control over my health, desires and the ability to manifest on the highest. If you ever feel like giving up, remember that it's not worth it. You can do it too!'
However, his evolution has not been limited to his personal life. Professionally, the rapper has also been exploring new territory.
Known primarily for his work in hip hop and production collaborations with the likes of AKA and other local rappers, the artist made a bold shift in 2024.
He made a musical return and took his fans on a different journey with the release of his album 'BOOM SZN', which is rooted in the vibrant sounds of Amapiano.
In an interview with "IOL", he revealed that he wanted to give his supporters 'shock value' as the sound was something they did not expect from him.
'You know, I think what I've appreciated the most is that, with 'BOOM SZN', I've been able to give people shock value. From the sound, the features, the production choices, and the blending of genres,' he said.
'Not so much switching from hip-hop to Amapiano, but rather infusing hip-hop with amapiano, R&B with amapiano, and Afrobeat with amapiano,' he added.